True North

The Dragon and the Girl #1

by Laura Findley Evans

THE LAST DRAGONS IN THE KINGDOM WERE KILLED A HALF CENTURY AGO.
At least that’s what twelve-year-old Eliana has grown up hearing. Imagine her surprise when one morning in the forest she finds herself eye to eye with a young dragon. When she learns the dragon’s father has been missing since the last full moon, she vows to help.

Together, they seek the King for guidance, but upon reaching the castle they realize the short, frazzled King has problems of his own. The kingdom’s treasure is missing and the tribute to the Overking is due in a few short weeks. If the King doesn’t pay, he will lose his kingdom to the Overking’s feckless nephew.

The dragon and the girl must discover courage—sprinkled with magic—to find what is lost before the kingdom falls into the wrong hands, and people and dragons perish forever.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Dragons

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2021

About the author

Laura Findley Evans is the author of of The Dragon and the Girl series. It all started when her grandchildren said one night (when they were supposed to be sleeping), “Tell us a story.” And so the adventures of a feisty young girl and an impossible dragon began. Laura would like you to know that whatever she writes must be true, whether it is real or not. She hopes you will discover the truth in whatever she writes. When she’s not writing, Laura reads (a lot), cooks (mostly) healthy dinners, and spends time with people she loves. You can visit her at www.LauraFindleyEvans.com.

Reviews

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowza! I fell in love with this story & these AMAZING characters so so quickly, & so hard. This was incredible! This story happens over the course of 4 days(except for some chapters that flashback from a month before up til current time). Each chapter has the name of the characters POV it will be, & which day we are on. LOVED that. The different POVs we read from are our MC Eliana, Winston the dragon, King Halwyn, & Doryu who lives at the castle. It’s so great to see the experience from each POV, & the different things they experience throughout this adventure.


The whole backstory of this Kingdom & the dragons, & how everything/everyone connects & comes full circle is just brilliant. I loved each POV so much. They’re each so vastly different, & I thoroughly enjoyed each. The rare gift Eliana has is so special. Her bond with Winston was so heart warming, & so beautiful. Such a special relationship. The author did such a great job at making you feel the love they had for each other. Eliana has always wanted more than her middle child, endless chores life..more adventure. Perfect example of be careful what you wish for lol She got it & more, which is a great thing, but also made her appreciate her home & family more than ever.

Winston is such a pure, honest, loyal, & beautiful soul. I even loved Eliana’s family, especially her brothers. Shane reminds me of Winston with the pure, innocent soul he has. They both have my heart. I ADORED Bedwyr so much! You can tell how lonely he is, & he enjoys having people over & sharing his love for maps so much. And Cow! Lol Brilliant, & I loved it. I loved the Kings character development throughout the story. Kings aren’t always great characters in books, & I was worried what he would do-especially with how his own father was. I was surprisingly happy with him, & I ended up adoring him as well. Poor Doryu. So much sadness, & guilt he carries. It was so nice to see his backstory, & how it all connected, & how the current story unfolded for him. Him & Jade were just the cutest. I’m also wondering if he has a crush on cook lol Speaking of cook, I NEED to know more about her! I’m so intrigued!

Margred is evil, cold, & I despised her. Written so well. Still some mystery there, I can’t wait to learn more about the treasure, the leaf, & the boat. This just has the best, most well written characters. Even loved a couple of the King’s guards we meet, & their horses! Great dynamics & even banter(during lighter moments)between all the characters. Winston’s parents are amazing, & so beautiful(I can picture them in my head from the authors vivid descriptions). Especially loved his dad Raiden, & also his backstory & how it all came full circle.

I’m so impressed by this authors writing, & ability to write not only amazing characters, but a great plot that is so mysterious, dangerous, suspenseful, intriguing, gripping, & full of so much loyalty, friendship, family, hope, & more. The teacups were such a creative & imaginative idea as well, & even THOSE were all connected & came full circle lol SO GOOD! Such an immersive story, so well paced, & I flew through this. I NEED more lol Can’t wait for the sequel. Highly recommend! STUNNING cover by Ruth Hunter too!💜

[Sally White · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: I just completed the final copy after Christmas. What a wonderful read! I am so impressed with Laura Findley Evan's ability to transport the reader into this fantasy world. I'm not usually a fantasy reader, but I so loved the well-drawn characters in this book. I cannot wait to read the sequel!


I read an Advanced Review Copy of this wonderful book. As a former fifth grade teacher, I have read many books in the Middle Grade fantasy genre. True North (The Dragon and the Girl) stands out for its development of the characters and beautiful prose that engaged me immediately. I love a good series, because, when you enjoy the characters, you want to stay with them. I truly am looking forward to spending more time with Eliana and Winston. This is a book that would have had a prominent place in my classroom library, with multiple copies for Literature Circles. As soon as it is released, I will be stocking up on copies for my grandchildren for Christmas!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, flying dragons, castles, and a brave girl who saves a kingdom- all of the ingredients of a great middle grade fantasy novel! The Dragon and the Girl: True North, by Laura Evans, is a spellbinding tale that hooked me from page one.

In the beginning, the protagonist, Eliana, thinks her life as the middle child of a stone cutter and a healer is dull and predictable. However, when she wanders into the forest, discovers a dragon, and realizes she is one of the rare “Dragon Speakers”, the adventure of her life begins.

This is a “must read”. The author’s clever and crafty writing made me laugh, cry, and reflect. I even read passages from this wordsmith aloud to my family as I flew through her novel. I can’t wait till it comes out in print so I can buy copies of it for my friends and family for Christmas!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading an Advanced Review Copy of TRUE NORTH (The Dragon and The Girl, #1). When I read the first few words of the prologue, I was immediately captivated and curious about the story that would follow. “And of course, dragons flew among the mountain peaks…” I wondered --- “Of course?” What were these dragons like? Were they truly the “terrible creatures” the author referred to in her prologue?

The story that unfolds is much more than a simple story about a dragon and a girl. The author’s rich and colorful descriptions of her characters paint vivid pictures of who they are and the choices they’re making that will be relatable to middle grade readers. Her description of the settings and the action that follow are rich in language, respecting a younger reader’s vocabulary, while providing an older reader a satisfying literary experience.

When choosing a book for younger readers, I look for books where the characters show growth and development throughout the story, as these characters do. I am even more delighted when the story takes unpredictable twists and turns – and the author creates a world that stimulates the reader’s imagination.

This is one of those books. I will buy it for my younger family members and encourage our library to include it on their middle grade reading lists. I loved reading it and look forward to the next book in the series.

[Ashley White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SO fortunate to read an ARC of The Dragon and the Girl by Laura Findley Evans! I couldn’t put it down Wednesday evening and struggled to keep my eyes open Thursday because of it - but it was worth it! Her book is a book that matters. The lessons, themes, and vocabulary for kids are amazing and will help any child to ignite and improve their imagination. The world building and vividly conceived dragons will make kids long to see this on the big screen, while adult readers will be reminded of when they were young and that feeling of awe we would get when we fell in love with a new, magical world that we so desperately wished to be real. I absolutely adored this book, the beautiful prose, and Laura’s original take on such beloved fictional creatures. Her world continued to grow as I read - and so did my feelings for the characters. I will be eagerly awaiting the second installment to this series and can’t wait to see where it takes Winston and Eliana next ❤️

[Stephanie Cotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so fortunate to read an ARC of The Dragon and the Girl by Laura Findley Evans! As soon as I received my copy I dove right in and had it consumed in a matter of days. From the first page I was pulled into a magical world where dragons exist, but not as we've come to know them in most works of fiction. Laura takes a unique and cleverly conceived spin on dragon myths that will delight readers young and old. The vivid imagery she paints with the dragons' colorful descriptions and the soaring language for when they take flight will inspire children's minds to dream of impossible feats. I absolutely adored this book! Every page glittered with enchanting prose that had me smiling from ear to ear. I felt like a young kid discovering my favorite magical worlds for the first time all over again. This wonderful tale is a must read, must own book to be enjoyed by all ages. I am greatly anticipating the next installment! Each character has stolen a place in my heart, and I can't wait to see where their story goes from here!

[Betsy Schmitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an Advanced Review Copy of this fabulous new MG book. Exquisitely written with robust vocabulary, stunning visual imagery, and thoughtfully developed relatable characters, TRUE NORTH (The Dragon and the Girl #1) immediately transports the reader to a colorful and mystical world full of intrigue, magic, and adventure. The internal structure of the book helps the reader to easily follow the story threads, while the intricate maps give context to Eliana's world. This book will resonate with middle graders and parents alike. I am looking forward to reading this with my grandson in our Family Bookclub.

[J.R.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading an advanced copy of “True North,” and it was just that. A pleasure.

I’ve been hooked on fantasy since my first read of “The Hobbit” as a young boy. Idyllic (or sometimes hellish) backdrops for stories of great deeds, performed by characters with whom I can relate, connects with and moves my heart in ways little else can. I’d venture to say most people would have the same experience as I - if only they knew where to begin. Tolkien, Lewis, Sanderson, Rothfuss, Martin and many others have wonderful stories to tell, but cracking a fourteen hundred-page book about hard magics and warring deities could be daunting for fantasy newbie. Where “Stormlight” is a highdive, “True North” is a relaxing dip in your neighbors new pool with a Mai Tai.

That is not to say that it is simple or lacks substance; just the opposite, in fact. Eliana, Winston, Halwyn, Margred and others are fully three dimensional, and the Author gives a special look into each perspective. But whereas some stories cater only to their target audience (in this case, middle grade), this book could act as an hors d’oeuvre for a person new to the genre. And, speaking as a person with young children, I look forward to it serving as a catalyst for multi-generational conversation.

Finally, and perhaps most of all, I greatly enjoyed how “True North” explored the question of what could happen if regular people, who thought they knew all the workings of the world, suddenly had fantastical circumstances thrust upon them. The world the author has created runs deep with magic long forgotten, and, at the outset, most of the cast seem content in their forgetfulness. How would you or your children react at the sudden realization that mythical creatures not only exist, but can communicate and cooperate with us? It’s a wonderful concept to examine.

This is a story for the whole family. Give it a go. You won’t be disappointed.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s that time of year when parents everywhere start making plans for their kids’ summer entertainment. I’ve always tried to stack the shelves with books to occupy a lot of the down time, and we eagerly anticipate the summer library reading program each June. Here I am again wrapping up the school year struggling with the common “My kids have already read all of the recommendations on that list” problem. And yet, I’m unwilling to give them carte blanche with my credit card at our local chain bookstore, as I’m not a fan of some of the current trends in youth fiction. At least one of my children needs an endless supply of books, and I don’t have time to preview all of them.

We just finished listening to Book One of The Dragon and the Girl, True North on Audible, of what I understand will be at least a three-book series. From age 11, 13, 15 (two girls and a boy), up to me, we all enjoyed it! It included all the best fairytale elements I grew up loving: adventure, mystery, heroes and villains, and mythical creatures. For this concerned Momma, I was happy to see that truth prevailed, good triumphed over evil, and it stuck to the time immemorial ingredients of good storytelling. Our family is on to Book 2 of the series, True Treasure, so I thought I would help spread the word to others in my same boat!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Findley Evans is a “new-to-me” author and I loved everything about True North. The main characters in the story are Winston (a young dragon) and Eliana (a young girl). Evans does a great job of introducing the characters and showing their feelings as they are both exposed to an unknown-to-them species. Winston and Eliana work together to find and free Winston’s missing father, while struggling with their feelings about having lied to their parents.
Her fantasy setting is well-developed and consistent throughout the story. Readers are able to visualize the setting due to the vivid descriptions Laura Findley Evans. The plot moves along nicely with enough twists to keep the reader interested. The book has many of the elements of a good fantasy - magical/mythical creatures, kings, castles, spells, a battle between good and evil, an epic journey, and of course dragons.
I enjoyed True North and look forward to reading more in Laura Findley Evans The Dragon and the Girl series.
True North would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a k-12 Christian school library.
This fantasy novel is appropriate for upper elementary and older.
I received a complimentary copy of True North. This is my honest review.

[M.J. Carstarphen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like this review should be on behalf of my 7 year old daughter who could not put this book down. She would sneak up in the middle of the night with a flashlight to read it. Both her and my 4 year old chose it as their bedtime story (I read to them every night before bed) and I love that it was a story that got them excited to hear more and for my oldest to try reading it on her own. The story is magical and fun and everything a great middle grade fantasy should be. We will absolutely be getting book 2!

[Brooke Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must have gone through so many emotions listening to this book! It made me bring my inner child out and it was like I could remember all of my old imaginations that I once had about dragons, flying and adventures! It's crazy because when we grow up we tend to leave those imaginations/emotions behind us and books like these remind us to always dream of what seems impossible! What a fantastic book with fantastic characters! I will be getting the second book and listening to this book again in the future!

[R.K. Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the whimsical feel of the cover. It really brings to life the feel of the book, is vibrant and great for this age range. It will draw in young readers.
I love when Middle-Grade books are fun and full of life but also have a message.
Action and adventure are laced through the entirety of this book. It has solid writing that is easy to follow and will engage the young reader throughout.

[Krysta · Rating 5 out of 5]

*see updated review below*
My daughter (10) gave this 5 stars! She is really into dragons and a voracious reader so when I stumbled across this gorgeous book I knew it would be perfect for a Christmas present. She finished it within a few days and was sad that there aren't more (yet?)...I assume it will be a series and have every intention of getting the next one for her. I will also be reading this myself and will update this review once I do.

UPDATE: I just finished reading this as a read-aloud and we all loved it! Still 5 stars! The author's writing style is warm and inviting, with well written characters and an interesting story that is told from several characters' points of view. The dragons are not the typical fantasy dragon and I love how we get an inside view of their life and perspective through Winston. The intrigue at the castle keeps you guessing but despite some peril and darker history I'd still say this is middle-grade for content rather than teen. The story resolves with satisfaction while opening the door to further mysteries to be unraveled in future books. There is one character in particular that has me very intrigued (you'll know it when you read it)!

Probably my favorite aspect of this story however, is the family-centered morals. The characters grow in meaningful ways while the parents and children have mutual love and respect for each other. So often the protagonists in these stories will be really angsty teens that are feeling rebellious against their family, but that is not the case here - the dynamics are very gentle and organic. Eliana still manages to grow, make mistakes and test her boundaries without losing that connection with what matters most. A quote from page 309 sums it up: "Yes, she had her own life to live, but she was part of a family whose lives were entwined with hers." The beautiful message the characters convey is that of parents respecting that their kids are growing and can handle additional responsibility, and the kids respecting that their actions have consequences for those they love and other people in general. I just love that. Being a parent probably makes me biased. ;)

The final bit of wisdom, related to the book's title, is found on the very last page. What's true north, Eliana? Winston asked. True north is finding our way without getting pulled off course by the wrong things. We just have to figure out the right course. For both of us, said Eliana."

We are all looking forward to Eliana and Winston's further adventures!

[Ssnowball · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure it was to receive an ARC (Advanced Reader’s Copy) of this lovely tale. This MG fantasy is beautifully constructed and well thought out, with characters as colorful as a dragon feather. Put this book in the hands of your young readers and they will be transported to a fantasy world of great delight.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first takeaway was that the author really brings us charming and compelling main characters. The reader is able to build a connection with them from the start.
Author Laura Dindley Evans brings us a great plot shot full of twists, fantasy, and even some action set a fantastical world!
The setting so lively and interesting. The plot twists were an adventure that I never wanted to end.

[Zoe Paganelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my favorites now because of the amazing suspension and actions the book has to offer. It takes you to a tale where you need to guess what could happen next. From a separation to a friendship, the book, “The Dragon and the Girl” really catches your attention with its pages. 100/10 would recommend!!!!!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story so much! Eliana and Winston are a wonderful pair, and their adventure played out so nicely. I love the emotion behind Doryu, when he thought of his past acts as a dragon speaker, and how his arc was completed. A wonderful middle grade fantasy adventure for anyone to enjoy!

[stylelover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully done. I fell in love with the characters immediately and found myself invested in their journey. I highly recommend this story to young readers everywhere who love exciting, magical tales. It’s got heart, flying dragons, and adventure…what more could one want?!

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great chapter books for kids. The story line includes a positive messages about friendship, being honest and strong female characters.
It was full of adventure, life lessons, and love. The characters were wonderful as well as the villains.

[Hannah Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a super fun YA fantasy/mystery! New to me author and it kept me locked in all throughout. I enjoyed most of the characters, besides Margred of course.

I’m not sure when I’ll read book 2 since I have other books to read and this one ended on a happy enough finish lol.

[Frankie Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing feeling

I love that the girl was able to communicate with the dragon and help recuse dragon's family and the kingdom from dangers.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my daughter (11). We both enjoyed it. I thought it was well-written and had nice vocabulary throughout.

[Kara Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS ONE, it’s so good to read !!!!!👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻❤️❤️❤️✔️✔️✔️🐉🐉👧🏼👧🏼📕📕 - Ruby

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter who loved it. It is engaging fantasy for kids of young adults.